Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Peking,
China, February 13,
1904.
No. 1502.]
Sir: I confirm Department’s telegram of the
10th instant, and mine of the 11th and 13th.
Immediately on receipt of your instructions I complied therewith by
sending to Prince Ch’ing the note, a copy of which I inclose.
I inclose also, 1, note from Prince Ch’ing embodying the Imperial edict
declaring China’s neutrality; 2, note from Prince Ch’ing emphasizing the
desire of China to observe strict neutrality in all the Empire,
including Mongolia, but acknowledging her inability to do so in that
part of Manchuria-still under the military occupation of Russia, and
presenting the question of the protection of her territorial sovereignty
for the consideration of the other foreign powers; 3, notification by
the Chinese Government that foreign troops occupying various localities
provided for by the final protocol should continue to observe the
original intent of the general agreement, and not concern themselves
with the aspect of affairs at present changed by the breaking out of war
between Russia and Japan.
It certainly seems most desirable that the zone of hostilities should be
limited geographically as much as possible, and it is to be hoped that
the efforts of the powers mentioned in my dispatch No. 1500, of
[Page 121]
the 10th, but which appear to
be along the same line with your own, may prove successful.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Conger to
Prince Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking,
China, February 11,
1904.
Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to
inform your imperial highness that I am just in receipt of a
telegram from the Secretary of State of the United States, directing
me to express to your imperial highness the earnest desire of the
United States that in the course of the military operations which
have begun between Russia and Japan, the neutrality of China, and,
in all practicable ways, her administrative entity shall be
respected by both parties, and that the area of hostilities shall be
localized and limited as much as possible, so that undue excitement
and disturbance of the Chinese people may be prevented and the least
possible loss to the commerce and peaceful intercourse of the world
may be occasioned.
In communicating these sentiments of my Government to your imperial
highness, I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Prince Ch’ing
to Mr. Conger.
I have the honor to inform your excellency that on the 27th of the
twelfth moon of the XXIX year of Kuanghsü (February 12, 1904) I
received the following Imperial edict:
“Now Russia and Japan, having severed their peaceful relations and
appealed to arms, and the court reflecting that both are friendly
powers, China ought to observe the laws of neutrality. Let the
Tartar generals, viceroys, and governors of the various provinces
issue general instructions to the civil and military officials under
them, and notify troops and people that all must uniformly and
reverently comply so as to strengthen international relations and
promote the general welfare. There must be no carelessness. Let this
be circulated for general information.” “Respect this.”
As in duty bound, I have reverently copied the above and send it to
your excellency that you may transmit it to your honorable
Government for its information.
A necessary dispatch.
Kuanghsü XXIX year, twelfth moon, 27th
day.
(February 12, 1904.)
[
seal.]
[Inclosure 3.]
Prince Ch’ing
to Mr. Conger.
At present Russia and Japan have severed their peaceful relations and
appealed to arms. China is on friendly relations with both. The
court remembers well their neighborly kindness, and has already
issued an edict declaring neutrality and instructing the various
Tartar generals, viceroys, and governors in the provinces to
uniformly and reverently observe the same.
Orders have already been sent throughout the empire commanding a
uniform observance of this edict and the strictest instructions have
been given to maintain the peace and to give thorough protection to
all foreign commerce and mission work, of which there is record.
The “Three eastern provinces” (Manchuria) are Chinese frontier
territory; Mukden, the capital of Shengking, and Hsingching are the
sites of the graves and temples of the imperial ancestors and the
palaces of the secondary capital.
[Page 122]
Their importance is therefore very great and
it ought naturally to be the duty of the Tartar general of Mukden to
carefully and reverently guard them.
The two powers, Russia and Japan, must not injure the cities and
public buildings of these “three provinces,” nor the lives and
property of the people, nor should the Chinese troops stationed
there come in conflict with either of them.
The territory west of the Liao River is that from which Russia has
already withdrawn her troops, and the Superintendent of Trade for
the North has sent military forces there to take charge. Throughout
the provinces and along the frontiers, including Inner and Outer
Mongolia, the two powers (Russia and Japan) must avoid any invasion
of Chinese territory, inasmuch as China is observing the laws of
neutrality. But at such places in Manchuria as are still in charge
of a foreign power and from which its troops have not yet withdrawn,
China’s strength is insufficient, and it will be perhaps difficult
to strictly observe the laws of neutrality there. No matter which of
the two powers may be victorious or defeated the sovereignity of the
frontier territory of Manchuria will still revert to China as an
independent Government. Neither of the two powers may usurp it. In
this earnest effort to protect the general interests we ought to
receive the lenient judgment of all the powers, who ought to bear in
mind all the circumstances.
Besides sending dispatches to the ministers for Russia and Japan in
Peking, as in duty bound, I send this to your excellency that you
may transmit it to your honorable Government for its
consideration.
A necessary dispatch.
Kuanghsü XXIX year, twelfth moon, 27th
day.
(February 12, 1904.)
[
seal.]
[Inclosure 4.]
Prince Ch’ing
to Mr. Conger.
According to the provisions of the seventh and ninth articles of the
protocol entered into by the powers on the 25th of the seventh moon,
of the XXVII year of Kuanghsü, that is the 7th of September, 1901,
of the western calendar, China agreed that the various powers might
keep troops in Peking and along the road from Peking to the sea.
It appears therefore that the troops now stationed at Peking,
Tientsin, Shan-hai Kuan, and such places are so stationed in
accordance with this general agreement. Now that Russia and Japan
have unfortunately severed their peaceful relations these troops of
the allies retained at said places ought still to observe the
original intent of this general agreement and must not concern
themselves with the present changed aspect of affairs.
Besides sending dispatches to the ministers of all the other powers,
as in duty bound, I have prepared this dispatch for your
excellency’s information.
A necessary dispatch.
Kuanghsii XXIX year, twelfth moon, 27th
day.
(February 12, 1904.)
[
seal.]
